Game apparatus.



P. X. KENNEDY. GAME nmmwus, APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

F. X. KENNEDY.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1912;

1,070,039, Y Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH co.. WASHINGTON 0,1;

FRANCES X. KENNEDY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

- Application filed October 21, 1912. Serial No. 726,871.

1/ 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCES X. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to an improved gun which is designed to discharge a ball, the object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which is especially adapted for use in playing a game of ball, the gun serving to discharge the ball in the direction of the batter and at such speed as to render it more or less difficult for the batter to strike the ball.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with improved trigger mechanism for holding the ball ejecting plunger in set position, and improved mechanism for holding the ball in set position against the plunger.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be manufac tured and sold at an extremely low cost, and which will efficiently perform the functions for which it is intended.

IVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating my improvements showing the support therefor partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating the trigger mechanism. Fig. 3 is an end view of the plunger. Fig. at is a View in longitudinal sect-ion showing the plunger in its fired position. Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a view in cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. I, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upright supporting its coupling.

1 represents a cylindrical barrel which is reinforced at one end by means of a ring 2, and at a point between its ends, by means of a ring 3. These rings are preferably brazed onto the barrel, and the barrel has a close-d end 4 which is provided with two openings 5 through which parallel rods 6 project. These rods 6 are secured to a piston 7 and coiled springs 8 are located on the rods between the piston and the end 4, normally projecting the piston toward the open end of the barrel so as to discharge a ball 9 or other object.

The outer ends of the rods 6 are connected by a cross bar 10 having a ring or other handle 11 thereon to facilitate the manual movement of the rods. Cushion springs 12 are located on rod 6 between the cross bar 10 and washers 13 on the rods, and these washers 13 normally bear against and strike against a cushioning disk 14. secured to the end 4 by means of screws 15.

The barrel 1, adjacent ring 3, is provided with an opening 16 through which a beveled catch 17 projects. This catch 17 is pivotally connected to a lug 18 on a tongue 22 integral with ring 3. The catch 17 is also pivotally connected to a trigger 19. This trigger 19 is fulcrumed between its ends to a bracket 20 fixed to the barrel, and a spring 21 exerts pressure on the trigger to press the catch 17 into locking position as indicated in Figs) and 4.

In the opposite wall of barrel 1 and in advance of the opening 16, an opening 23 is provided and through this opening 23 the rounded end 24 of a ball holding lever 25 projects. The lever 25 is fulcrumed between its ends on a lug 26 integral with ring 3, and the opposite end of the lever is secured to a spring 27, and said spring bears against the barrel, exerting pressure on the lever to project the rounded end 24 through the slot of the barrel in position to engage the ball 9 and hold the latter against the plunger when in firing position. In other words, the ball holder prevents the ball from rolling out of firing position regardless of the angle to which the barrel is tilted, but the pressure is not sufficient to materially effect the force with which the ball is ejected.

The plunger 7 is so shaped as to permit a free by-passing of the air as the plunger moves, so as not to retard the force of the springs nor render difficult the compressing of the springs, and said plunger has a notch 28 which accommodates the curved end 2st of lever 25 and prevents the plunger from striking the lever.

The tongue 18 above referred to is provided in its lower end with an opening 29 to receive a pin 30 and pivotally connect the tongue in the bifurcated upper end of a tubular upright 31. This upright 31 has rotary mounting on a post 32 which is screwthreaded at its lower end and screwed into a base coupling 83, said base coupling having perforated cars 34: for the reception of screws 35 to secure the same to a suitable support 36.

It will thus be seen that the barrel may be turned at any angle and tilted at any angle so as to permit the operator to aim the barrel, and hence discharge the ball in any direction desired. The first operation, of course, will be to grasp the handle 11 and draw the plunger to locked position shown in Fig. 2, the catch 17 by reason of its beveled formation allowing the plunger to ride freely rearwardly yet lock the same against forward movement. The ball 9 positioned in the barrel against the plunger, and lever 25 is operated to allow the ball to pass, and is then released so that the rounded end 24 will hold the ball in firing position against the plunger. After the barrel is aimed, the trigger 19 will be operated to release the catch and the springs 8 will move the plunger and eject the ball from the barrel. The shock of this movement is cush ioned by the springs 12 as will be readily understood.

If desired the pin 30 may be removed and the barrel held in the hands of the user, and various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a barrel, a plunger in the barrel, a pivoted catch projecting through the barrel and adapted to hold the plunger in firing position, a trigger pivotally connected to said catch, said barrel having a slot therein, a lever fulcrumed between its ends on the barrel, a rounded end on said lever projecting through the opening in the barrel and adapted to engage a ball and hold it against the plunger when the latter is in firing position, and a spring engaging said lever, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a barrel, a plunger in is then the barrel, a pivoted catch projecting through the barrel and adapted to hold the plunger in firing position, a trigger pivotally connected to said catch, said barrel having a slot therein, a lever fulcrumed between its ends on the barrel, a rounded end on said lever projecting through the opening in the barrel and adapted to engage a ball and hold it against the plunger when the latter is in firing position, a spring engaging said lever, said plunger having a notch therein in line with the ball holding device, whereby the plunger is permitted to pass the ball holding device without con tacting therewith, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a barrel, a plunger in the barrel, a pivoted catch projecting through the barrel and adapted to hold the plunger in firing position, a trigger pivotally connected to said catch, and a ball holder projecting into the barrel and adapted to hold the ball against the plunger when the latter is in firing position, said barrel having a closed end, and two openings in the closed end, of two rods secured to the plunger and projecting through the openings in. the end of the barrel, a crossed bar connecting the outer ends of the rods, and coiled springs on both rods on both sides of the closed end, substantially as described.

t. I11 a device of the character described, the combination with a barrel, a plunger in the barrel, a pivoted catch projecting through the barrel and adapted tohold the plunger in firing position, a trigger pivo-tally connected to said catch, said barrel having a slot therein, a lever fulcrum-ed between its ends on the barrel, a rounded end on said lever projecting through the opening in the barrel and adapted to engage a ball and hold it against the plunger when the latter is in firing position, a spring engaging said lever, said barrel having a closed end, and two openings in the closed end, of two rods secured to the plunger and projecting through the openings in the end of the barrel, a crossed bar connecting the outer ends of the rods, and coiled springs on both rods on both sides of the closed end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCES X. KENNEDY.

Witnesses R. H. KRENKEL, CHAS. E. Porrrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

